Vertical vane traverse mechanism



J. P. ARENA ETAL VERTICAL VANE TRAVERSE MECHANISM June 22, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 1 m N mm L INVENTORS fikEN/Q W 21i ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 21,1962 .l aw

mm ww Q June 22, 1965 J. P. ARENA ETAL VERTICAL VANE TRAVERSE MECHANISMH W MM m t IPQAW A a Z n h 00 JP cm Filed Nov. 21, 1962 June 22, 1965. IJ p, iq ETAL 3,190,346

VERTICAL VANE TRAVERSE mncmmrsu Filed Nov. 21, 1962 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTORS 56 L/bSE HP 1PN4 ,Paaser .Jmmv

ORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,19,346 Patented June 22, 1965 Thepresent invention relates generally to improvements in vertical vaneblind structures and it relates more particularly to improvements invertical vane traverse mechanisms.

A vertical vane blind in general use includes upper and lower paralleltrack members or a single track member along which traversecorresponding pairs of carriers tightly supporting respective verticalslats or vanes. Associated with one or both of the tracks is alongitudinally extending threaded rod and a longitudinally extendingsplined rod which register with longitudinal bores in the carriers. Thesplined rod is rotatable and is coupled to translating mechanisms in thecarriers to control the tilt of the vanes about vertical axes and thethreaded rod which defines a traverse control member engages a followermember which is connected to the leading carrier to longitudinallyeffect the advance and retraction thereof. The lead carrier in turn isconnected to the trailing carriers so that advance and retraction of thelead carrier effects the extension and contraction of the blind. Thevane traverse control mechanisms heretofore employed in vertical vaneblinds of the above type possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages.They are ditlicult to operate, are subject to frequent binding and othermalfunctioning and otherwise leave much to be desired.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providean improved vertical vane blind structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vanetraverse mechanism for vertical vane blinds.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvertical vane blind traversing mechanism wherein the vane carriers areadvanced and retracted along support tracks in which binding andmalfunctioning of the vane carriers are eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical vanetraverse mechanism of the above nature characterized by its ruggedness,simplicity, reliability and ease of operation, and low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: FIGURE 1 is a topplan fragmentary view of a vane traverse mechanism in a vertical vaneblind embodying the present invention, the vane carriers beingillustrated in fully extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1, the vane carriersbeing illustrated in their retracted positions;

. FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view taken along line 3-3in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, the carriers being illustratedin retracted positions;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 66 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of a pair of successivevane carriers in extended positions;

I FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a carrierillustrating a pair of spacer links being extended toward their coupledposition; and

1 FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of a spacer ink.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of avertical vane blind comprising a plurality of carriers relativelylongitudinally movable between a contracted and expanded position, alink having a trailing section connected to each of said carriers andextending longitudinally into movable overlapping relationship with thenext successive link, and mating separable interlocking means disposedon and adjacent opposite ends of each of said links, said interlockingmeans on successive links being urged into engagement when therespective trailing and leading sections thereof are in registry.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, there isprovided a longitudinally extending track along which the carriers areslidably guided and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinallyextending rods extend parallel to the track, one of these rods beingthreaded and defining a traverse control rod and the other rod being ofuniform non-circular transverse, cross-section and defining a vane anglecontrol rod. Each of the carriers consists of a housing havingtransversely spaced bores formed therein which register with the controlrods. One of the bores has journalled therein a worm gear slidablyengaging the angle control rod and rotatable therewith and the otherbore slidably engages the threaded traverse rod. A gear is mediallyhoused in each carrier and is rotatable about a vertical axis by acorresponding engaging worm gear and is connected to a vane couplingmember to permit the synchronized angular adjustment of the vanes byrotation of the angle control rod. Follower members are associated withthe lead carrier and engage the threaded rod so that rotation thereofadvances or retracts the lead carrier. A spacer link'formed of flexibleresilient material has a trailing end substantially rigidly affixed toeach of the carriers and projects longitudinally thereof parallel to andin vertical alignment with the traverse control rod. The link trailingsection has a longitudinal slot formed therein and the leading sectionhas a hook shaped element formed in one face and an oppositely directeddetent on the other face. Guide members are located on each carrier toretain each of the spacer links in confronting vertical registry withthe trailing end of the next successive leading link and to urge thehook member of one link into engagement with the slot shoulder of thenext successive leading link when adjacent carriers are moved to theirrelatively expanded positions.

The advantages of the unique traverse mechanism described above aremanifold. The carriers may be traversed with a minimum of effort andbinding is eliminated. Further, the carriers can be of very smallthickness and in their contracted state are in substantially abuttingrelationship. Furthermore, the spacer link arrangement is such that thepull on the trailing carriers is transmitted solely through the spacerlinks and the carriers do not function as couplings between links.Moreover, since there is no connection between the links in theiruncoupled state the retraction procedure of carriers is greatlyimproved. In addition, by reason of the overall assembly, fullaccessibility to the various components is readily afforded.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the reference numeral 16) generally designates achannel shaped horizontal longitudinally extending guide member,suitably afiixed along the bottom of a window or other opening, it beingnoted that a smiliar guide member, in inverted position, is similarlyaflixed along the top of the window opening and provided with acorresponding traverse and control mechaninsm. The guide member 10includes a base wall 11 and parallel vertical side walls 12 terminatingin inwardly directed flanges 13 provided at their free 3 V 7 ends withparallel lips delineating a medial longitudinally extending slot 14.Formed on the inner face of each of the side walls 12 is a trackdefining pair of inwardly directed parallel longitudinally extendingflanges 16 located between the upper and lower side wall edges.

Located at opposite ends of the guide member are plates 17 and 18respectively, the plate 17 supporting a journal block 19 and the block20 having a pair of transvers'ely spaced openings formed therein. a vanetraverse control worm or rod 21 having multiple threads formed thereinextends along the length of the guide mem ber 19 transversely'offsetrelative to its medial axis 7 and at the level of the track 16, one endof the worm 21 being journalled in theblock 19 and the othereridprojecting through the endplate 18. Similarly, a splined vane anglecontrol rodorshaft -22 at the level of and offset oppositely relative tothe worm 21 has one end journalled in the block 19 and its opposite endprojecting I through the end plate 18. A' gear box or bracket'23ismounted onthe guide member 10 outside the plate 18' and houses a firstgear 24 affixed'to'the splined shaft 22 and is longitudinally positionedby suitable spacers. A

sprocket wheel 26 is atiixed to the free end of the worm A pluralityofvane carriers32 is disposed in the guide memberlil and may have itscounterpart in an opposite guide member. Each carrier includes a housing33 havi ing transversely spaced longitudinally extending boresregistering withthe worm 21 and splined shaft 22' and provided withtransversely projecting stub axles 34. Mounted in each of the axles 34is a wheel 36 which engages a corresponding track 16 to facilitate thelongitudinal movement of the carriers 32. Located in each of thehousings 33 is a medially located vertically'ex- Formed in the top faceof each carrier 32 in vertical 'parallel alignment with the worm 21 isalongitudinally hooked end 49 having a forwardly directed leg engaging aa matching recess for-med in the trailing face of the housing 33. Formedin-trailing section 46 forwardly of the hook 49 is arearwardlydownwardly inclined tongue 50,

the free end of which engages the'trailingshoulder 51 of alongitudinallyextending medial well 55 formed in the base of the groove48. Theedges of link sections 46 and '47 are joined by inclined edgesfrom which depend lugs 52" engaging the leading faces of the housings33. f

A longitudinally extending medial slot 54 is formed in the link trailingsection ,46 and terminates at its trail- 'in'g end in atr'ansverseshoulder 56 located longitudinally intermediate the housingfront and rear ends and is provided at its leading end, forward of thehousin'g'33, with a downwardly rearwardly directed concavity 56. A pairof transversely spaced-posts 57 are located on the top face of thehousing 33 on opposite sides of the groove 48 and spaced outwardly ofthe side, edges thereof, the distance between the confronting faces ofthe posts 57 being somewhat greater than the width of-fthe link leadingsection 47and saidfaces preferably being slightly convex.

; The posts '57 terminate at their tops in arms 58 directed Ltransversely toward each other and spaced above the I housing top face.The inner ends of the arms 58 are tending gear, not shown, which isconnected to an axial I V located a rearwardly directed dependingcoupling hook shaft 37projecting through the slot 14 and terminating, ina coupling member 38 engaging an end of a corresponding blind vane 39.Also journalled in each housing 33 is a longitudinally extending wormslidably engaging and rotatable with the shaft 22 and meshing with thegear carrying the shaft 37 so that rotation of the shaft 22 turns theshafts 37 whereby to synchronously turn the vanes 39.

Disposed along opposite sides of the lead Carrier 40 which is similar instructure and function to the carriers 32 is a pair of pusher members41. Each'of the pusher members 41 includes a follower defininginternally threaded hub member 42 which engages the worm 21. Projectingtransversely from each of the followers 42 is an arm 43 terminating in aforked yoke which: slidably engages the splined shaft 22. Thus rotationof the worm separated a distance less than the width of the link section47 and are provided with convex cam defining underfaces 59. It should benoted that the arms 58 may be joined to form an integral bridge. i Theleading section 47 of each of the links 44 islocated in the passagewayof the next successive leading carrier 32 delineated by the confrontingfacesiof the posts 57, the arm underfaces 59 and the top face of thenext succeeding link trailing section 46 and the border of the top faceof the housing 33. The link leading section 47 is longitudinally freelymovable ,in the passageway 60 and is subject to a restricted verticalmovement. Each of thelink leading sections 47 terminate in an upwardlyforwardly inclined arm 61, trailing which is medially defining angulatedtongue 63 formed integral with the link 44. I A pair of transverselyspaced upwardly directed detentsflor bosses 64 are disposed alongopposite side edges of the link 44 immediately trailing the couplinghook 63. The overall height of the boss 64 andthe hook 63 is greaaterthan that Eof the passageway 60 and the lhaeight of the boss 64 and isless than the passageway eig t. Y

he leading carrier 40 has anchored thereto a coupling section 65 similarin construction to link trailing section 46 21 is one orthe-otherdireotions' advances and retracts the followers 41 which inturn advances and retracts the lead carrier 46. i i

In order to effect the advance'and retraction of the trailing carriers32 and to accurately space these in their extended positions there isprovided a plurality of spacer links 44 anchored to each of the carriers32. Each spacer link 44 is formed of a longitudinally extending band ofa resilient flexiblematerial such as a spring steel having a trailingendsection 46 of appreciably lesser width than the remaining leadingsection .47. Each' link 44 is substantially rigidly anchored at itstrailing end to a corresponding carrier at a point in vertical alignmentwith the worm 21 and extendsalong a longitudinal direction parallel tothe worm 21-but having itsyleading end vertically swinga-ble relativethereto by reason oflthe resilien y of the l nk. 7 7 e 'and differingtherefrom primarily in the absence of the leading section 47 and theprovision of a depending leading hook section 66 engaging a matingrecessin the leading face of the carrier 44). In all other respects itsassociation with the carrier 40 is similar to that of a link trailingsection 46 with a carrier 32.

Considering now the operation of the traverse mechanism described above,in its contracted state the carriers 32 and 40 are in the positions.illustrated in FIGURE 2.

' Upon rotation of the sprocket wheel 27 and worm 21 in an advancingsense, counterclockwise as viewed in FTGURE 6, the pushers 41 areadvancedto theleft, the

.trailing pusher 41 advancing the leading carrier 40 with the supportedvane. The carrier 40 moves along the the cam faces 59 the coupling hookis urged into engagement with the shoulder 56. Further advance of thelead carrier 46 advances the engaged link 44-whichrpulls the arenas-enext successive carrier 32 until the shoulder 56 of the link anchoredthereto engages the coupling hook 63 of the next successive link. Thusas the lead carrier 40 is advanced successive carriers are sequentiallyadvanced and accurately spaced from the preceding carrier a distancedetermined by the length of the spacer link. Moreover all of thecarriers are advanced by the lead carrier through the extensible linkchain, none of the pulling stress being transmitted through any of thetrailing carriers.

In collapsing the blind, the Worm 21 is rotated by the sprocket Wheel 27in a clockwise direction and the lead pusher 41 bears on the leadcarrier 40 to transport it to the right. The lead carrier shoulder 56moves out of engagement with the mating hook 63, the cam surfaces 59move past the trailing side of the bosses 64 and the book 63 is urgedout of registry with the slot 54 by the concavity 56 bearing on theunderface of the hook 63. As the lead carrier 40 and pushers 41 arefurther retracted they bear upon the first trailing carrier 32 to urgeit to the right, the hook member 63 of the link anchored to the nexttrailing carrier being disengaged from the shoulder 56 and slot 54 ofthe first trailing carrier in the manner described above. As the firsttrailing carrier moves towards the next trailing carrier the trailinglink rides over the post arms 58 as best seen in FIGURE 5. Upon fullretraction of the lead carrier the carriers are compactly contracted tothe position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Inasmuch as the splines on the shaft 22 extend linearly, movement of thecarriers 32 do not effect any rotation of the vane shafts 37. The vaneshafts 37 may be synchronously adjusted merely by rotating the shaft 22by way of gears 24 and 29 and sprocket Wheel 30.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention it is apparent that numerous alternations andomissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A vertical vane blind comprising a plurality of carriers relativelylongitudinally movable between a contracted and expanded position, asubstantially similar link having a trailing end section connected toeach of said carriers and a leading end section and extendinglongitudinally into longitudinally movable overlapping relationship withthe next successive link, mating separable interlocking means disposedon said trailing and leading end sections of each of said links, a firstdetent located on each of said carriers and spaced from and directedtoward a face of the link trailing end section secured to the respectivecarrier, and a second detent located on a face of the leading endsection of each of said links and in longitudinal alignment with saidfirst detents and directly oppositely to said first detents, at leastone of each of said first and second detents having an inclined camdefining surface whereby said interlocking means on successive links areurged into engagement when the respective trailing and leading endsections thereof are in registry.

2. The vertical vane blind of claim 1, wherein each of said links isformed of a flexible resilient band.

3. The vertical vane blind of claim 2 wherein said separableinterlocking means includes a hook member projecting from a surface ofeach of said links toward the confronting surface of the next successivelink and engages a shoulder formed in said next successive link when therespective trailing and leading end sections thereof are in registry.

4. The vertical vane blind of claim 1 including means on each of saidcarriers slidably engaging the link connected to the next precedingcarrier and restricting the transverse movement thereof.

5. A vertical vane blind comprising a plurality of longitudinally spacedvane carriers having transversely spaced pairs of first and secondlongitudinal bores formed therein, a longitudinally extending wormregistering with said first bores, a longitudinally extending vane anglecontrol shaft registering with said second bores, a follower met berengaging said worm and cooperating with a leading of said carriers, aspacer link having a trailing section aflixed to each of said carriersand having a leading section projecting from said carrier along adirection in parallel verti cal alignment with said worm, means locatedon each of said carriers guiding said next successive link leadingsections for movement in overlapping relation with the respective linktrailing sections, separable mating coupling means located adjacentopposite ends of each of said links, a first detent located on each ofsaid carriers and spaced from and directed toward a face of the linktrailing end section secured to the respective carrier, and a seconddetent located on a face of the leading end section of each of saidlinks and in longitudinal alignment with said first detents and directedoppositely to said first detents, at least one of each of said first andsecond detents having an inclined cam defining surface whereby to urgethe coupling means on successive links into separable engagement whenbrought into registry.

6. The vertical vane blind of claim 5 wherein said coupling meansincludes a hook and a shoulder formed on each of said links.

7. The vertical vane blind of claim 5 including a pair of posts mountedon each carrier along opposite sides of adjacent links, and inwardlydirected legs defining said first detents located on each of said poststo delineate with said posts a guide passageway for the leading sectionof the next successive link.

8. The vertical vane blind of claim 1, including means on each of saidcarriers defining first and second noncoinciding guides, said firstguide engaging a link trailing end section and second guide slideablyengaging a link leading end section.

9. The vertical vane blind of claim 1, including means on the trailingend section of each of said links engaging the trailing portion of acorresponding carrier, said trailing end section being provided with adetent mmeber engaging the leading face of said corresponding carrierrelative to said respective link to restrict the longitudinal movementof said link relative to said carrier and being vertically movablerelative to said carrier.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,492 4/57Toti -173 2,993,535 7/61 Taylor 160173 3,054,446 9/62 Cayton 160-173HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

1. A VERTICAL VANE BLIND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS RELATIVELYLONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN A CONTRACTED AND EXPANDED POSITION, ASUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR LINK HAVING A TRAILING END SECTION CONNECTED TOEACH OF SAID CARIERS AND A LEADING END SECTION AND EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY INTO LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITHTHE NEXT SUCCESSIVE LINK, MATING SEPARABLE INTERLOCKING MEANS DISPOSEDON SAID TRAILING AND LEADING END SECTIONS OF EACH OF SAID LINKS, A FIRSTDETENT LOCATED ON EACH OF SAID CARRIERS AND SPACED FROM AND DIRECTEDTOWARD A FACE OF THE LINK TRAILING END SECTION SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVECARRIER, AND A SECOND DETENT LOCATED ON A FACE OF THE LEADING ENDSECTION OF EACH OF SAID LINKS AND IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAIDFIRST DETENTS AND DIRECTLY OPPOSITELY TO SAID FIRST DETENTS, AT LEASTONE OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DETENTS HAVING AN INCLINED CAMDEFINING SURFACE WHEREBY SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS ON SUCCESSIVE LINKS AREURGED INTO ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE RESPECTIVE TRAILING AND LEADING ENDSECTIONS THEREOF ARE IN REGISTRY.